Wrench of a quick-acting type.



G. E. L. SEMANS.

WRENCH OF A QUICK ACTING TYPE,

APPLICATION FILED 33.27, 1912.

m a m w d we m M 1 9 1 ATTORNEYS GEORGE E. L. SEMANS, 01" PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

WRENCH OF A QUICK-ACTING- TYPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 1,: 1914.

Application filed February 27, 1912. Serial No. 680,226.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. L. SnMANs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Wrenches of a Quick-Acting Type, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in wrenches of a quick acting type, and has for its object the provisions of a wrench of this type which is simple and efficient in operation, durable in construction, and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafterdisclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

1n. the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views,--Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, of a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-J11 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 with a Slight modification shown as applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line VV of Fig. 41-. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a still further modification. Fig. 7 isa detail View of the jaw-carrier. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the jaws.

10 designates the shank carrying the fixed jaw 11, and on which the movable jaw member 12 is adapted to move longitudinally of the shank. The shank has its opposite sides threaded, as at 13, the body of the shank in crosssection having fiat sides, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. These parts are of any preferred construction, with the exception of the movable jaw member 12, which is provided with a recess 14 within which the collar 15, of the swinging-jaw carrier 16 is adapted to extend, this carrier being shown in elevation in Fig. 7, having a peripheral recess 17 in which the toe 18 of the movable jaw is adapted. to extend. The carrier is provided with longitudinal recesses 19 on diametrically opposite sides thereof, within which are adapted to extend ears 20 of the swinging-jaws 21, the latter being shown in detail in Fig. 8, the carrier being provided with openings 22 for the pins 23 which act as supports for the ears 2 The interior of the carrier is smooth and of a diameter to be free from engagement with the threads 13 of the shank, while the jaws 21., have their lower portions threaded as indicated at 24 and adapted to engage the threads of the shank, when the jaws are swung to their inner position, the position shown in Figs. 1, 4 and (3. As shown in Fig. 3, the jaws 2]., when closed, have their thr *aded portions adapted to form continuous threads, thereby permitting the carrier and the jaws to be rotated around the shank, such rotation providing the threading of the carrier on the shank; and since the head 15 of the carrier and the movable jaw are complementally formed so as to cause the jaw to move longitudinally of the shank during such rotative movements of the carrier, it will be readilyunderstood that such threading movement of the carrier and its jaws will move the movable jaw member toward and from the fixed jaw member.

Various ways of providing for the engagement and disengagement of the swinging jaw members 21. may be provided. In Figs. 1 and 3, I have shown a device in the form of a swinging bail 25, mounted on one of the jaws 21 and adapted to be swung over the other jaw for the purpose of holding the two jaws in contact with the shank. Another way in which this can be done is by providing the spring catch member 26 on one of the jaws, said member having openings 27, adapted to spring over pins 28, carried by the other jaw, this form being shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In connection with these forms, I prefer to make the jaws self-opening, by the use of springs 29, it being readily understood that upon release of the bail 25 or the spring 26, the jaws 21. will swing outwardly on their pivots and thus disengage the jaws from the shank, this disengagement obviously permitting the movable jaw member, the carrier and its jaws to slide freely longitudinally of the shank. Another way in which this operation may be provided is shown in Fig. 6, in which the jaws 21 are shown as provided with outwardly extending projections 29, a ring 30 being mounted on the jaws. In this form, the positioning herein shown provides for both a free slid- 3 ing movement of the movable jaw member as well as a threading movement the position of the aws 21 determin ng the nature of i the movement. This permits the jaw memher to be brought into approximate position, and then by simply rotating the carrier, the movable jaw member will be moved to the proper position. Since the swinging jaws and the carrier are movable as a unit both longitudinally of the shank and rotatively thereon, either movement will cause the movable jaw member to move longitudinally of the shank. And as the swinging movement of the swinging jaws is in a direction where the jaws can be readily manipulated by one hand, it will be readily understoodthat the particular construction shown is of great advantage in serving its function as a quickacting and positively adjusting wrench. The particular structure shown is such as to provide for a relatively low cost of manufacture, and since the construction provides for durability and simplicity and efliciency in operation its advantages are believed to be obvious.

Having thus described my invention, and pointed out several ways in which it might be carried into effect, it will be readily understood that changes and variations of modifications therein may be required or desired in use, and I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to make any and all such changes and modifications therein as may be found desirable or required in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

In a wrench having a toothed shank, fixed and movable jaw members thereon and a carrier for controlling the movement of the movable jaw member and moving therewith, said carrier formed with a peripheral recess and having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal recesses opening into the peripheral recess, a pair of semi circular swinging jaws adapted to engage said shank inwardly with respect to the carrier and said jaws being provided with apertured ears disposed in the longitudinal recesses, pins mounted in the carrier for pivotally connecting the said swinging jaws thereto, the said jaws being rotative on the said shank in correspondence with said carrier,andashiftable bail carried by the swinging jaws and adapted when shifted in one direction to maintain the jaws in engagement with the threads of the shank to prevent the shifting of the movable jaw.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. L. .SEMANS.

Witnesses:

MAX H. SRoLoviTz, HORACE G. Snrrz.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing-the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

